Baptism & Confirmation

Infant Baptism

In baptism, you as parents are: thanking God for his gift of life, making a decision to start your child on the journey of faith and asking for your church to join in with the life of Christ’s church. Christians have been baptising new Christians since the beginning of the faith. For your child, baptism marks the start of a journey of faith, which involves turning away from all that is evil, turning towards Christ and becoming a member of the local and worldwide Christian family. If you would like to read more about infant baptism you can visit the Church of England’s website .

We welcome anyone living in, or with a strong connection to, the Parish who presents their children for Baptism. We do ask that candidates and their parent do come to at least four services in the 3 months leading up to the baptism. The Baptism will take place either at a service of public worship, or at a special Baptism service held normally on the 1st Sunday of the month at 11:15am.

There are no fees payable for Baptism

An application form for Baptism can be downloaded here.

Godparents

Parents and Godparents will be asked to make promises on behalf of the child to be baptised, or if they are old enough, the child will be asked to join in with these promises. As baptism marks the beginning of faith it is appropriate to ask that at least one Parent and all Godparents have been baptised. Godparents promise to pray and support the child and to help the parents to bring up the child in the Christian faith. It is an important and responsible role.

You should have at least three godparents: including one of each sex. Godparents can be family members or friends. However, it is important that you choose people who will take an interest in your child's spiritual welfare and who will pray for you and your child. 

Baptism and Confirmation of Young people and adults

Teenagers and adults may also be baptised. This can sometimes be included within a celebration of confirmation by the Bishop. You can only be baptised once, but there are ways of renewing your Christian commitment and baptismal vows publicly as an adult. What matters is that those concerned sincerely desire to follow Christ and have a good appreciation of what they are doing. Therefore, for young people and adults the normal practice is for them to attend a series of nurture classes prior to Baptism or Confirmation.

Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which our participation in the life of God’s people, started at baptism, is confirmed by the bishop by the laying on of hands. Those who have been baptised affirm for themselves the faith into which they have been baptised and their intention to live for Christ all their lives. Through prayer and the laying on of hands the bishop asks God to give them power through the Holy Spirit to follow Christ.

If you wish to enquire further about Baptism or Confirmation please contact, in the first instance, the Parish Priest, the Rev'd Chris Boland.